3 great programmes on BBC Radio 4. — Big Fish English April 21, 2016 BBC Radio 4 is great way to improve your English. If you haven’t come across radio 4 before then you don’t know what you are missing! Radio 4 is a spoken-word station which broadcasts a wide range of programmes including news, drama, comedy, science and history. Of course, you can listen to the radio live, in the old fashioned way, but the most convenient way is to go to BBC iplayer radio , where you can browse and choose a programme that interests you. Here are my suggestions to get you started: 1. Desert Island discs Presenter Kirsty Young interviews a guest and asks them which 8 records, which book and which luxury they would take if they were stranded on a desert island. As the interview unfolds we learn more about the lives of the guests and the reasons for the choices they made. Hundreds of guests have been interviewed since 1942 including Bill Gates, Louis Armstrong, Dustin Hoffman and JK Rowling. The conversation moves quite slowly so it’s easy for non-native speakers to follow and the language it just right too – not too formal and not too colloquial. 2.

The Archers The Archers is a radio soap opera about life in the British country side – most of the main characters are farmers and it’s a fascinating insight into life in modern, rural Britain. It’s been on the air since 1951 and has over 5 million daily listeners in the UK. The great thing about The Archers is that it’s on everyday (Monday – Friday) so you can get hooked on it and use it as part of your English habit. Each episode is short – just 14 mins so it doesn’t get too boring. It’s fairly easy to follow and a great way to get used to different accents! 3. Book at Bedtime Every weekday evening between 10:45pm and 11:00pm you can listen to a serialised, abridged reading of a fiction book, read by well known actors. The programme has been running since 1949, so it’s a real classic. It’s a great way to discover new literature and on top of that, the books are serialised over two or three weeks, so you will be hooked in no time – helping to reinforce your English habit.

Do let me know if you have listened to anything on Radio 4 that you enjoyed. Sign up to get your Big Fish Starter Pack! THE 15 MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH SIGN UP FOR BLOG UPDATES TO GET THIS FREE EBOOK BBC - Press Office - Network Radio Programme Information BBC Week 10 Monday 7 March 2011 8.00-10.00pm BBC RADIO 2 Elbow lead singer and BBC 6 Music presenter Guy Garvey Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie have a live set from Elbow, the indie band fronted by BBC 6 Music's very own Guy Garvey, in tonight's show, live from Manchester. Elbow perform tracks from their new album, Build A Rocket Boys!, which was released last month and follows 2008's Mercury Prize-winning album, The Seldom Seen Kid. Listeners can hear Guy Garvey present his Finest Hour every Sunday night, from 10pm, on 6 Music. Radcliffe and Maconie will soon be joining him on the digital station, with a brand-new weekday 1-4pm show launching on Monday 4 April.

Presenters/Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Producers/Ian Callaghan and Lizzie Hoskin for Smooth Operations BBC Radio 2 Publicity 10.00-11.00pm BBC RADIO 2 Ukulele player, singer and comedian George Formby Stuart Maconie celebrates the life and career of George Formby, perhaps Wigan's most famous son, and asks whether he was, in fact, Britain's first pop star. Born into a showbiz family, George soon outshone his father, becoming a star of stage and screen who seduced audiences as far afield as Scandinavia, the Soviet Union and South Africa. While he might now be seen as a figure from a bygone era, his private life was actually more in keeping with that of a contemporary tabloid-fascinating rock star. Stuart discovers that Formby was a much more complicated character than the "cheeky chappie" caricature which endures. Even in his work there were contradictions. George sang about a Chinese laundry man called Mr Wu, yet in 1946 defied threats from the National Party leader Malan and performed for black audiences in South Africa.

His songs were also not always as clean as his windows, with the BBC choosing to censor some of his more suggestive lyrics. The documentary explores allegations of morphine addiction, subversion and battles with Christian moralists. Stuart also examines George's relationship with his wife and manager, Beryl, who ruled the star and rarely allowed him to kiss his leading lady on screen. Presenter/Stuart Maconie, Producer/Ian Callaghan for Smooth Operations BBC Radio 2 Publicity Composer Of The Week – Bruch Monday 7 to Friday 11 March 12.00noon-1.00pm BBC RADIO 3 Donald Macleod looks at Bruch's relationship with the city of his birth, Cologne, in the first edition of this new Composer Of The Week offering. Bruch had a very promising start as a student of Hiller and then embarked on a career in the wider world, caught up in the battle between conservative and revolutionary forces in music in the late 19th century. Bruch grew increasingly bitter over the years that he was not able to base himself in Cologne permanently, as the right job offer never came, and the success or otherwise of his works there would always matter hugely to him.

Presenter/Donald Macleod, Producer/Megan Jones Monday 7 March 7.00-9.15pm BBC RADIO 3 Listeners are treated to a veritable feast of music by Rococo master Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, one of JS Bach's most talented sons, in tonight's Performance On 3, from the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, under the baton of Sir Roger Norrington, a period instrument expert, feature a wide and rich palette of the German composer's music, mixing symphonies and concerti and highlighting the significant role he played in bridging the earlier Baroque period and the later classicism of Mozart and Haydn. The soloists are Richard Lester for the Cello Concerto in A, and Steven Devine for the Harpsichord Concerto in C. Featured music by CPE Bach includes Symphony in G, Wq. 182/1; Harpsichord Concerto in C, Wq. 20; Symphony in G, Wq. 173; Symphony in E, Wq. 182/6; Cello Concerto in A, Wq.

172; and Symphony in E flat, Wq. 179. A recital given by soprano Amanda Roocroft, accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau, follows all this week. As the programme reaches the 1860-70 decade in the Wigmore Hall's 100 Years of German Song series, Liszt, Cornelius, Jensen, Bruch and Brahms are the composers featured. Presenter/Martin Handley, Producer/Joan Carlos Jaramillo BBC Radio 3 Publicity Woman's Hour Drama – A Domestic Ep 1/5 Monday 7 to Friday 11 March 10.45-11.00am BBC RADIO 4 A Domestic, written by Peter Jukes, is the story of Mariola, a young Polish cleaner who works for a well-to-do lawyer couple in leafy Chiswick, and forms this week's Woman's Hour Drama offering. Kim and Olivier Anderson have a perfect marriage. As lawyers who work mainly in the area of marital disputes and contracts, they have a lot in common. They laugh riotously at the antics their warring clients get up to, to best each other in – and out – of court.

Then, one morning, Mariola finds an earring in the marital bed and it's not Kim's. On closer inspection, she realises it belongs to Elena, the nanny. Mariola comes from a broken family. She is very fond of the Andersons, despite finding their humour at other peoples' expense troubling. But she is very attached to their young son, Russell, and desperately wants harmony to rule, so she returns the earring to Elena's room. From there, events unfold that threaten to bring the family towards break-up. The couple who enjoyed much humour at the expense of their clients now find themselves in their shoes. Lydia Leornard stars as Mariola, Neil Stuke as Olivier, Clare Lawrence-Moody as Kim, Christine Kavanagh as Anna, Deeviya Meir as Russell, Sean Baker as Dr Kevin Riorty and Sally Orrick as Elena. Producer/Peter Kavanagh for the BBC BBC Radio 4 Publicity Monday 7 March 11.00-11.30am BBC RADIO 4 At a cost of more than £20m, Bristol has been turned into a demonstration Cycling City.

As the three-year project concludes in March 2011, Miles Warde assesses whether it has been a success. The original idea was to be a pioneering project, to be followed by many other cities, and originated from the umbrella organisation Cycling England. The many stakeholders in cycling culture provided a great deal of lively debate as to how the overall funding should be spent and how the success of the project should be measured. Since the original award, Cycling England has been abolished and it seems unlikely that funding like this will be available again for some time to come. Miles, who surveyed the early stages of the project last year, saddles up again to find out where the money has gone, how it has been accounted for and whether Cycling City has been a success. Presenter/Miles Warde, Producer/Christine Hall for the BBC BBC Radio 4 Publicity Afternoon Play – Mr Jones Goes Driving Monday 7 March 2.15-3.00pm BBC RADIO 4 Real-life husband and wife Richard Briers and Ann Davies star in Shelly Silas's play about the story of a man giving up the one thing that he has always loved.

Johnny Jones isn't particularly old – he's a regular man with a regular wife, two grown-up children and a handful of grandchildren. He has a good life and for that he's grateful. However, all that is about to change. Upon being told that a series of seizures he has suffered were due to epilepsy, rather than a brain tumour, Johnny's relief soon turns to gloom. While he accepts everything the doctors tell him, he cannot accept having to give up his driving licence. For over 50 years he has driven just about everyone everywhere in his beloved almond car. His wife, Alice, hasn't driven for years – why would she when she has Johnny to drive her everywhere? While he's happy to part with many other activities, this is one he just can't give up. Now, he has been told he must stop driving or face the consequences. This Afternoon Play offering is the story of the day Johnny takes one last journey in his car, which reveals some of his secrets.

Richard Briers stars as Johnny Jones, Ann Davies as Alice Jones, Muzz Khan as Imran, Helena Breck as Lizzie Gray, Jonathan Holby as Ian, Ben Tosh as Patrick, Stella Duffy as Johnny's mother and Wilf and Ruby Armstrong Ashdown as Johnny's grandchildren. Producer/Gordon House for Goldhawk Essential Ltd BBC Radio 4 Publicity Book At Bedtime – Pigeon English Ep 1/10 Monday 7 to Friday 11 March 10.45-11.00pm BBC RADIO 4 Read by Jojo Baidoo, Pigeon English is the first novel by Stephen Kelman. It tells the story of 11-year-old Harrison Opoku, who has moved from Ghana to live with his mother and older sister on a tough North London housing estate. Shortly after he arrives he sees a boy he knows slightly, lying stabbed on the street and he realises he needs to learn the tricks of inner city survival – fast. And as he tries to come to terms with his new surroundings he befriends a pigeon who visits the balcony of his ninth-floor flat.

Other voices are provided by Adjoa Andoh, Madeline Appiah, Amelia Donkor, Daniel Green, David Holt, Osy Ikhile and Robert Sparks. Reader/Jojo Baidoo, Producer/Jane Marshall for Jane Marshall Productions BBC Radio 4 Publicity Tony Blackburn and Jenni Murray want to be laughed at for Comic Relief Hugh Dennis hosts this series in which six radio presenters, one from each of the six BBC radio stations – Radio 1 through to 6 Music – are given just two weeks to become fully-fledged stand-up comedians by performing their first proper gig in front of the general public at London's famous comedy venue, The Comedy Store. The contestants are: Dev from Radio 1, Tony Blackburn from Radio 2, Tom Service from Radio 3, Jenni Murray from Radio 4, Tony Livesey from Radio 5 Live and Shaun Keaveny from 6 Music. To help them on their way, each of them is paired up with a mentor who tries to help them steer clear of the many pitfalls of performing stand-up comedy.

Dev is mentored by Chris Ramsey, Tony Blackburn by Julian Clary, Tom Service by Sandi Toksvig, Jenni Murray by Mark Steel, Tony Livesey by Justin Moorhouse and Shaun Keaveny by Miles Jupp. Between them they hope to win the title of Stand Up For Comic Relief Champion 2011. On Monday at 11pm, the contestants are given a tour and some history of the Comedy Store by stand-up legend Mark Thomas. On Tuesday at 11pm, the presenters have their first try-out night and listeners hear how the mentors think their charges are coming along ahead of the big gig itself. On Wednesday from 6.30-7.00pm, the presenters perform their final routines at The Comedy Store. Listeners can tune in to hear how the presenters are coping with such a daunting challenge, and then vote online on which presenter is the funniest at bbc.co.uk/rednoseday/standup .

Presenter/Hugh Dennis, Producer/Sam Michell for the BBC BBC Radio 4 Publicity BBC Radio 4 - Everything2.com BBC Radio 4 Sat Jan 06 2007 at 20:15:42 BBC Radio 4 - A feast in audio form BBC Radio 4 is an astonishing radio station broadcast in the UK . It is consistent in quality and varied in content. It does not assume you're stupid or have a short attention span. There are no advertisements ; little music— but there is a general atmosphere of quiet erudition. Radio 4 remains an outpost of the old Reithian ideal of broadcasting as a public service - to Educate, Inform and Entertain. It is my near-constant companion in the home; I listen to Radio 4 almost continuously, only turning to music stations (or in extremis, television ) occasionally. I have a radio in the bedroom, living room , kitchen and bathroom . Radio 4 is the last thing I hear before putting out the light at night, and the first thing I listen to before getting up. It makes doing the ironing tolerable.

The familiar voices and schedule are a sort of comfort blanket for the mind; an armchair for the intellect and an exercise bike for my opinions and pet peeves. It's slightly pompous, slightly left -leaning, slightly dismissive of British institutions, slightly complicit with them, slightly staid and slightly forward-looking- it could be considered the voice of the nation. Or at least the middle class part. Or at least the English middle class part. It's programmes are of such high-quality that they transcend their target audiences; Women's Hour 's audience is 40% male; people enjoy Gardener's Question Time even if they've never picked up a trowel. It has a unique role in the UK's nuclear defence strategy. If a submarine captain can neither establish contact with commanders nor pick up Radio 4, he is to assume that the country has been destroyed and act accordingly. In a potentially very direct way, Radio 4 is therefore the vital sign of the nation and the miner's canary for nuclear apocalypse. The BBC puts great efforts into their broadcast reliability nines. How to Get It BBC Radio 4 broadcasts in the UK on FM , Long Wave and Medium Wave , via DAB and terrestrial and satellite digital TV.

Occasionally the Long Wave signal differs from the rest of the network to include church services and ball-by-ball cricket commentary ( Test Match Special ). Several programmes are also available after broadcast on the Flash -based BBC iPlayer or MP3 files with podcast feeds- but usually only for a week after the initial broadcast. They have come a long way since Patrick Moore used to read out URLs saying "stop" instead of "dot". The Best of Radio 4 Some of my personal favourites or otherwise notable programmes are described below: The Today Programme — Monday to Saturday's morning news magazine programme. It has made a feature of combative interviews with government minister s and opposition spokesmen, but it also features in-depth news coverage with a dignified and authoritative air. Also, sports reports with none of that. The Today Programme really sets the news agenda for all media for the next 24 hours; a real case of "you heard it here first". The Today Programme is as much part of the UK's political system as green leather benches. Start The Week— A discussion programme covering several important current issues from the spheres of politics , culture and science .

The panel will include leaders from each of those fields; and the programme excels in allowing the brightest minds from one field the chance to quiz the opinion-formers from another. In Our Time— An academic debate show of staggering ambition, which it often realises. Each week a panel of experts explore a topic from every angle; they are informative without being condescending, and manage to illuminate topics without assuming much pre-existing knowledge from the listener. This week, the topic was Jorge Luis Borges , with an Oxford professor of Spanish and a University of California professor of comparative literature. Previous topics have included the Great Exhibition , the number zero , the Diet of Worms , Hell , the Graviton , and Uncle Tom's Cabin . All past programmes can be listened to in full on the BBC Website- a remarkable resource. From Our Own Correspondent— The BBC employs correspondents all over the world to report back on news wherever it happens. From Our Own Correspondent broadcasts reports about the daily lives of people in those countries whenever there is no particular international news event in the spotlight. Desert Island Discs — Talk show in which a guest is asked to pick several recordings, books and luxury items that would see them through a lifetime stranded on a desert island.

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue — Comedy panel game, in which some of the grand old men of British comedy and a handful of comparative newcomers compete to do silly things; like singing one song to the tune of another or coming up with new definitions. The quality and inventiveness of the innuendo , and the studied surliness of the (now sadly deceased) octogenarian chairman 's disapproval are timeless and priceless. The home of Mornington Crescent . The Unbelievable Truth — Another panel game, under the masterful chairmanship of David Mitchell. The panellists take turns to deliver mostly-false lectures and to identify the rare truths within. Quirky Stuff As befits a broadcaster with such a long history, Radio 4 has gathered certain eccentricities . Its listenership are very protective of them, and react with fury when one changes or is replaced. The UK Theme (RIP)— The day's broadcasting used to begin with the UK Theme, a slightly saccharine mash-up of stirring British and Irish folk songs and marches. Arranged by Fritz Spiegl , it featured " Rule Britannia !", " What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?

" and Trumpet Voluntary , which are regarded as British tunes; the Londonderry Air (the tune of " Danny Boy ") from Northern Ireland, " Annie Laurie " and " Scotland the Brave " from Scotland; Men of Harlech from Wales, and the English " Greensleeves " and " Early One Morning ". It was used from 1973 until its retirement in 2006. There was a considerable controversy surrounding its removal. The Pips — There is a news broadcast every hour, on the hour. These are preceded by "The Pips", a time signal derived ultimately from the BBC's own atomic clock . It sounds like 5 short beeps one second apart, followed by a longer beep on the hour. Since radio signals take time to propagate, (and digital signals take additional time to decode) the pips can actually be late by a significant fraction of a second, depending on where you listen. But the Pips serve another purpose- the BBC's way of saying "A TTENTION, ITIZEN; NEWS!". The Bongs— Certain news broadcasts, including the ones at 6pm and 12 midnight are prefixed by a live relay of the chimes of Big Ben. Yes live.

Occasionally sirens or the chanting of protesters at parliament are broadcast alongside. The Shipping Forecast — A 5 minute broadcast of weather reports and storm warnings for shipping in the waters around the UK. It is gibberish for most listeners, but vital information for sailors. It has a poetic rhythm, and the various shipping regions have romantic names. It evokes those in peril on the sea while the listener is tucked up in bed. It also has a distinctive, specially-written theme tune called " Sailing By ". Thought For The Day — The Today Programme is a robust news and current affairs show. Politicians from any party can expect to be handled pretty roughly. However, an odd moment of calm is provided at about 7.45 each morning; a 5 minute sermon by an invited member of a monotheistic religion; a bishop is the usual choice, but laypeople , rabbi s and imam s are not uncommon. At its worst it's a wry look at modern life with a last-minute "that's a bit like Jesus/Moses/Mohamed" tacked on at the end. But sometimes "Thought For The Day" does live up to its name.

Test Match Special — When the England Cricket Team is in action in a test match , the Long Wave Radio 4 signal is given over to Test Match Special , a day-long, ball-by-ball commentary on the contest. When rain stops play, the commentators talk affably about whatever occurs to them. The Long Wave signal makes the whole thing sound like a old 78 record. The schedule on FM continues as usual. The National Anthem — Another incongruous moment is provided by The Today Programme. Just before the 8am pips, one of the presenters will say "Today is the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen"; the surprised listener will then hear a drum-roll and the National Anthem . Other key members of the royal family are honoured in this way. A high-tempo rendition of "God Save the Queen" is also heard at the end of each day's broadcast. The Archers — A daily 15-minute soap opera set amongst rural folk in the fictional village of Ambridge . This programme began life in 1950 as a drama aimed at the farming community. Britain's food production had not yet recovered from the war, and The Archers storylines were used to introduce information about high-yield farming techniques to the rural listener.

Nowadays it's a regular fixture, and is mainly enjoyed by soft-handed urbanites who enjoy the west country accents and vague insights into modern country life. A Typical Weekday Up with the larks... The Radio 4 day begins at 5.20am with the first Shipping Forecast . A news report, schedule description and some trails for upcoming programmes follow; then a Prayer For The Day, and a farming bulletin. Then it's time for the station's main current affairs show, The Today Programme which runs until 9am. Next up is usually a panel discussion programme; the best of which are Start the Week , The Moral Maze and In Our Time . A dramatic reading from the Book of the Week fills the time until 10am, when begins the famous Woman's Hour ; a pair of documentaries or a comedy round off the morning. Let's do lunch... The afternoon begins with the consumer affairs programme, You and Yours - described by Dead Ringers as "an hour of nagging and fretting", which is not far off the mark.

News magazine The World At One follows before an episode of a themed documentary series (this week's haul included a look at how landscapes affect history, the suitability or otherwise of the national anthem , souped-up cars, then men who soup them up and the women who love them; and the countryside), except on Fridays, when the slot is occupied by a media panel discussion called The Message . Afternoon, all... At 2pm, every day for the remainder of human history The Archers will be broadcast; then the Afternoon Play provides some varied drama. At 3pm comes a themed magazine programme, covering personal finance, the natural world, gardening ( Gardeners' Question Time ), health or the environment. A pair of short programmes such as dramatic readings or personal musings lead to a themed documentary at 4pm; this week being The Food Programme on Italian ox -meat, Word of Mouth on etymology , Thinking Allowed and All In the Mind on psychology, Bookclub on modern literature, The Last Word obituary programme, and others. Twilight, when the lights are low... From 5pm to 6.30 come the PM news magazine and the more formal Six O'Clock News.

After all that education and information comes the entertainment; 6.30 during the week is comedy time; popular, long-running shows like Just a Minute , I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and The News Quiz rub shoulders with newer efforts like The Personality Quiz , The Now Show and Dead Ringers . Many former Radio 4 comedy programmes from this slot have gone on to great success on TV or in the cinema, such as The Mighty Boosh , The League of Gentlemen and Dead Ringers . A repeat of The Archers follows at 7pm; and at 7.15 we are treated to Front Row , an excellent cultural review programme with news of the latest literature, stage productions, TV programmes, and movie s. A short serialised drama takes the listener up to 8pm. Into the night... From then it's more documentaries, this time with more of a current affairs or investigative journalism flavour. This is the home of the prestigious File on Four programme, which is often about problems facing public services, Crossing Continents on life in other countries. On Fridays, Any Questions?

pits a panel of politicians, journalists and commentators against a live audience of questioners from the public in a church hall or school gymnasium somewhere in the country. Bedtime? The night-time schedule is again news-orientated, beginning at 10pm with The World Tonight , and including a repeated documentary or magazine programme from during office hours . Radio 4 takes the unusual step of telling you when to go to bed, by means of Book at Bedtime , a dramatic reading taken from a current novel. This is broadcast at 10.45pm, in case you were wondering when you should be tucked up. A comedy programme follows this, and it's usually a little more risque than the day-time comic fayre. When parliament is sitting, a half-hour programme of highlights from the days debate, Today in Parliament , is broadcast at 11.30. Then there's a half-hour news and weather bulletin from midnight; a repeat of Book of the Week , and the latest Shipping Forecast . At 1am, BBC Radio 4 shuts down for the night, and is replaced by the BBC World Service until 5.20.

Weekend Programming On Saturdays and Sundays, the basic layout of the day is similar; and repeats from the past week are common. This is fair enough, since the weekend listenership has likely been at work during the original broadcasts. Saturday's original programming includes new chat show Saturday Live (a new replacement for the much-loved Home Truths , a show of family anecdotes); travel programme Excess Baggage , and From Our Own Correspondent , consisting of several submissions from BBC news correspondents covering everyday life across the world. A repeat of Any Questions? is followed by Any Answers , a live phone-in covering the same topics. In the early evening comes Loose Ends , a witty showbiz roundup featuring the stars of the London stage and a few live musical acts. There is a summary of the best of Woman's Hour called Weekend Woman's Hour . On Sunday, the "Prayer of the Day" is replaced by a peal of church-bells from a different parish . The magazine programmes include the religiously themed, yet inclusive Something Understood , presented by Indian Anglican Mark Tully . An actual complete church service is broadcast instead of The Today Programme . But religious programming does not dominate.

Sunday is also home to the famous Desert Island Discs , a Classic Serial drama, children's magazine Go4It , In Business (in which the avuncular Peter Day is in turns confused and enthused by the latest trends from the IT and business worlds), Feedback airs listeners comments on all BBC broadcasting; and a look back at the week in parliament takes place in the Westminster Hour . Sunday mornings also include a gruelling omnibus edition of The Archers - a back-to-back repeat of all episodes from the last 7 days. History of Radio 4 The origins of Radio 4 go back to the foundation of the British Broadcasting Company (now "Corporation") in 1922. The first broadcasts were from Marconi 's London studios; and within a few years the whole UK could receive the programming. Its general manager in those days was John Reith , later Sir John, Lord Reith. The BBC concept of an independent broadcaster, free from political and commercial influence was his idea. Reith was able to defend the BBC's political independence even during the General Strike of 1927, in the teeth of opposition from Winston Churchill .

In these early days, they broadcast plays, classical music , talks and lectures, and entertainment programmes. The BBC provided two radio services, the BBC National Programme¹ from London ; and BBC Regional Programming (from 6 regional centres). In 1932, they moved to a custom-built headquarters, Broadcasting House off Oxford Street in London. They formed an Orchestra and began commissioning new music, such as " Belshazzar's Feast " from William Walton . Light entertainment programmes like ITMA were immensely popular, and the streets emptied while they where on air. During this pre- World War II period, the beeb began its world-wide Empire Service (which is now the BBC World Service ) and national television broadcasts. In 1939 the two home radio services were merged into the BBC Home Service. During the war, news broadcasting became increasingly important; before this newspaper s had successfully lobbied to limit the amount of news available on-air. In the post-war period, the Home Service continued, and was augmented by a new BBC Light Programme focused on light entertainment , and the BBC Third Programme focused on classical music , jazz , literature, dry cultural anaylsis, Test Match Special, and plays.

This left the Home Service broadcasting some music, schools programming, five daily news bulletins, and current affairs analysis. A reorganisation in 1957 reduced the overlap between the three services still further. In 1967, the whole of BBC Radio was reorganised and the familiar national line up was introduced: BBC Radio 1 - New pop and rock music service, drawing on the old offshore pirate stations and the more mild-mannered pop music programmes on the old BBC Light Programme. BBC Radio 2 - Then light music and light entertainment, from the old BBC Light Programme; today offering mainstream pop and rock as well. BBC Radio 3 - Which inherited the mantle of the old Third Programme, but later retreated to a core of just serious music and drama, leaving the rest to Radio 4. BBC Radio 4 - Which was a direct descendant of the Home Service, and is described elsewhere. Various parallel local services, such as BBC Radio Ulster. BBC Radio 4 has continued without significant changes from that time. Schedule rethinks have come and gone without making a huge impact to their mission. They thrive in the multi-channel digital broadcasting arena, and have embraced MP3 distribution of certain programmes and other Internet -era innovations .

¹ - Up until the 1960s, radio stations were called "radio programmes"; after this time, "programmes" came to be used as the term for individual "shows". Sources (BBC Links typically feature links to MP3s or Real streams of the programmes): The BBC Radio 4 website, The BBC Story, Wikipedia, (middling, even by their standards) The Uk Theme, David Tennant - Radio / Audio 2010 David Tennant Radio / Audio (2010) MP3s of all of David Tennant's recent interviews and appearances can be found on the MP3 page of this website. For posts related to David Tennant on the Radio and Audio on Blogger.com click here and here . December 2010 The David Tennant / David Hare Radio 4 play Murder in Samarkand is currently available to download for free as an audiobook from this link .

Updated 28/12 David Tennant Treat 4 Today - Marley Was Dead Updated 27/12 David Tennant's name is included in a spoof radio show called Marley Was Dead at 8pm tonight on BBC Radio 4 but David Tennant is not actually in the show (see here for more details). The satellite channel Watch are advertising a Doctor Who Day from 3pm on Saturday 1st January 2011 as they are showing lots of David Tennant's Doctor Who Christmas Specials. Updated 23/12 The BBC have posted two preview promo clips of the David Tennant narrated Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice documentary which airs next Wednesday (29th). Click here and here to view them. Updated 22/12 On Christmas Day from 2pm on Absolute Radio Christian O'Connell will be playing his 50 Top Moments which will include David Tennant. Updated 14/12 November 2010 Tonight at 10.45pm on BBC Radio Four David reads Clairmonde on Book At Bedtime .

Updated 26/11 Tonight at 10.45pm on BBC Radio Four David reads Luella Miller on Book At Bedtime . Updated 25/11 Tonight at 10.45pm on BBC Radio Four David reads The Horla on Book At Bedtime . Updated 24/11 The Guardian have a review of How Roald Dahl Shaped Pop. Updated 23/11 If you missed David Tennant in How Roald Dahl Shaped British Pop yesterday and can't get it on the iPlayer, the MP3 has been added here . Updated 23/11 Tonight at 10.45pm on BBC Radio Four David reads The Family Of The Vourdalak on Book At Bedtime . Updated 23/11 At 10pm tonight David Tennant will be narrating How Roald Dahl Shaped British Pop on BBC Radio Two and at 10.45pm on BBC Radio Four David reads his first Book At Bedtime . Updated 22/11 The Stage have a preview of the David Tennant narrated How Roald Dahl Shaped British Pop programme which is broadcast on BBC Radio Two tomorrow evening.

Updated 21/11 Click here to listen to the trailer for the David Tennant narrated How Roald Dahl Shaped Pop which airs on Monday at 10pm on BBC Radio 2. Updated 19/11 Click here to read about the stories which David Tennant will be reading on Radio 4 on Book At Bedtime next week. Updated 17/11 The Telegraph say that the 2 Minutes Silence single will be broadcast on the UK Chart Show tomorrow (David Tennant is in the video). Updated 13/11 At 8.30am and 10pm each Thursday from today for the next six weeks BBC Radio 7 are repeating Series Two of David Tennant's comedy Double Income, No Kinds Yet. (Over the past six weeks they repeated Series One.) Updated 11/11 For the week commencing Monday 22nd November (Monday to Friday) at 10.45pm on BBC Radio4 on the Book At Bedtime, David Tennant will be reading Antoine Calmet's accounts of real Vampires.

Updated 9/11 The BBC have announced that on Monday 22nd November at 10pm on BBC Radio 2 David Tennant will present 'How Roald Dahl Shaped British Pop'. See here for full details. Updated 3/11 October 2010 Absolute Radio have added a video of David Tennant on the lie detector machine. Updated 30/10 Christian O'Connell said that the Absolute Radio webcam had 70,000 hits yesterday from David Tennant fans. Updated 29/10 Absolute Radio have posted a photo of David Tennant in a pink wig and boa and more photos here . Updated 28/10 MP3s (and photos) of all of David Tennant's sections of the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio this morning have been added to the MP3 page of DavidTennantOnTwitter.com or click here for the direct link. Updated 28/10 David Tennant is co-hosting the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio this morning from 6am until 10am.

Updated 28/10 David Tennant will be interviewed on a Radio Four programme aired today at 8pm called Playing the Dane. Updated 23/10 On Saturday 23rd October at 8pm (and repeated on Monday 25th at 3pm) BBC Radio 4 are airing a documentary on Hamlet, including David Tennant's interpretation. It is presented by Michael Sheen. See here for more info. Updated 19/10 Absolute Radio have confirmed that David Tennant will be co-hosting their Breakfast Show on Thursday 28th October. (Previously there was some doubt whether it was the Thursday or Friday. It starts at 6am. Updated 19/10 Cressida Cowell mentions David Tennant in an article about How to Train Your Dragon on MovieWeb.com . Updated 18/10 Edith Bowman played a clip on Radio 1 today of David Tennant reading some song lyrics. Click here to listen to it. Updated 16/10 This morning Christian O'Connell played a David Tennant voicemail message. Click here to listen to a podcast of the show which includes the voicemail.

Updated 15/10 Click here for a photo of David Tennant from earlier today by Christian O'Connell when they met for lunch. Christian has also tweeted that David Tennant will be co-hosting the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show with him on either Thursday 28th or Friday 29th October, probably with an online Q&A afterwards too. Updated 14/10 BBC Radio Two have added a photo of David Tennant with Graham Norton on Saturday. Updated 12/10 Click here for MP3s of David Tennant on the Jo Whiley Show on Radio One today to promote Single Father. Updated 10/10 Click here for David Tennant's interview on the Graham Norton Show earlier today. As well as Single Father, they spoke about Fright Night, Hamlet and Decoy Bride. Updated 9/10 David Tennant will be interviewed on The Graham Norton Show on Radio 2 sometime between 10am and 1pm today. Updated 9/10 Click here to listen to David Tennant's interview on Woman's Hour today. Updated 8/10 Click here to view video of David Tennant on the Christian O'Connell Show today.

Updated 7/10 Click here to listen to David Tennant's interview and for photos of him on the Richard Bacon Show on Radio 5 Live this afternoon. Updated 7/10 After Heart and then Absolute Radio David Tennant moved to the BBC to record his slot for tomorrow's Woman's Hour on Radio 4 (broadcast tomorrow at 10am). Updated 7/10 Click here to listen to David Tennant's interview and for photos of him on Absolute Radio this morning to promote Single Father. Updated 7/10 Click here to listen to David Tennant's interview on Heart Radio this morning to promote Single Father. Updated 7/10 David Tennant will be interviewed on Heart Radio Breakfast Show and then on Absolute Radio Breakfast Show this morning sometime between 7.30am and 10am. He will then record Woman's Hour before being interviewed on the Richard Bacon Show on Radio 5 Live sometime between 2pm and 4pm. Updated 7/10 DavidTennantOnTwitter.com have heard from Woman's Hour who have confirmed that their interview with David Tennant will be broadcast on Friday (and recorded tomorrow).

Updated 6/10 Click here for a MP3 of an interview with Single Father writer Mick Ford where he discusses the drama and his admiration for David Tennant as an actor. Updated 5/10 In a change of schedule David Tennant will be on the Christian O'Connell Show on Absolute Radio on Thursday morning now and not Friday. Updated 5/10 Click here to listen to a MP3 of the review of David Tennant's drama Single Father on Front Row tonight. Updated 4/10 David Tennant will be interviewed on the Richard Bacon show on BBC Radio 5 Live on Thursday 7th October at 2pm. Updated 4/10 On Front Row on BBC Radio 4 at 7.15pm tonight Sarah Crompton and Kirsty Land will review Single Father. Updated 4/10 David Tennant is confirmed for Friday this week on the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show. See this link for all of David's media appearances to promote Single Father this week. Updated 4/10 David Tennant will be on the Graham Norton show on Radio Two on Saturday 9th from 10am.

Updated 2/10 On Tuesday 5th October at 1.15pm The Culture Caf� on BBC Radio Scotland will preview Single Father. Updated 2/10 September 2010 David Tennant and Suranne Jones will be on the Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1 on Sunday 10th October sometime between 1pm and 4pm to discuss Single Father. Also Christian O'Connell gave quite a large hint that David Tennant would be on his breakfast show sometime next week. See here for full details. Updated 27/9 David Tennant can currently be heard several times each weekday on ITV at 2pm as Learn Direct sponsor the programme 60 MInute Makeover and David voices those adverts. Click here to listen to an example. Updated 8/9 MP3s of two of David Tennant's old radio plays have been added to the website. Click here for Paint Her Well from 1996 and here for The Rotters' Club from 2003. Updated 5/9 August 2010 Single Father was discussed on BBC Radio Two at this link at 2 hours 41minutes.

They say "people who has seen it say it's fantastic." Updated 28/8 A David Tennant narrated audiobook for charity has been released today. See here for more details. Updated 19/8 On her show today Jo Whiley broadcast a short clip of David Tennant which she had found from a while ago. Click here to listen to it. Updated 15/8 July 2010 BBC News reports on David Tennant and Decoy Bride filming in Scotland (including a photo) at this link plus there is an audio interview from the set yesterday at this link . Updated 15/7 For those outside UK, the audio from the new ITN David Tennant video is available at this link (until it appears on YouTube!). Updated 9/7 Click here to listen to a 5 minute interview that David Tennant gave exclusively to to More Music 3FM while he was filming yesterday on the Isle Of Man for his forthcoming movie Decoy Bride. It includes the amazing line "Do gods go to the loo?" Updated 8/7 April 2010 The second part of the David Tennant read Doctor Who audiobook Pest Control is being given away in today's Telegraph.

See here for more info. Updated 26/4 The David Tennant read Doctor Who audiobook Pest Control is being given away in today's Sunday Telegraph. The second part will be in tomorrow's Daily Telegraph. See here for more info. Updated 25/4 There was a review of Hamlet this morning on Radio 2 by Andrew Collins as the Blu-Ray version is being released. Click here to listen to the review. (It lasts about 4 minutes.) Updated 24/4 The Telegraph is giving away copies of the Doctor Who audiobook Pest Control read by David Tennant on Sunday 25th & Monday 26th April according to writer Peter Anghelides . More details are here . Updated 14/4 David Tennant is the voice-over for Eddie Izzard's Labour Party video. Click here to view it. David's voice-over is at the end of the video. Updated 16/4 David Tennant provides the voice-over for this new video for the Scottish Labour Party. Updated 14/4 Click here to see the new Labour Party video featuring David Tennant's voice at the end.

Updated 11/4 March 2010 David Tennant's TV film Einstein and Eddington has its US premiere on HBO at 9pm tonight. There will be repeat viewings after this. Updated 23/3 Last night a fourth episode of Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man aired on BBC1 at 10.25pm. It was a highlights programme from the three episodes shown on BBC3 and was narrated by David Tennant. Click here to listen to a MP3 of the audio. Updated 22/3 David Tennant is doing the voice for a character called Spitelout in the new Dreamworks movie called How To Train Your Dragon. See here for more info and a featurette. Updated 21/3 Click here to see the video for the CuisineArt soup-maker advert (David Tennant does the voice-over) which is currently being shown on UK television. Updated 21/3 The David Tennant narrated We Are Astronomers short film will be shown at the Northern Lights Film Festival tonight in Newcastle. See here for more details.

Updated 21/3 Tonight a fourth episode of Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man will be aired on BBC1 at 10.25pm. It is narrated by David Tennant and will be a selection of highlights from the three episodes screened on BBC3 over the past three weeks. Updated 21/3 Tonight the third episode of Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man aired on BBC3 at 10.30pm. It is narrated by David Tennant and will be repeated several times this coming week. Click here to listen to a MP3 of the audio. Updated 18/3 Click here for a MP3 of David Tennant narrating the documentary Diet Or My Husband Dies which was shown on BBC1 last night. Updated 16/3 David Tennant will be narrating part of an audio book for two wildlife charities. See here for more info. Updated 15/3 Click here to download a MP3 of David Tennant narrating My Life: Karate Kids. Updated 13/3 Click here to listen to the audio of David Tennant narrating the second of three episodes of the series Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man.

Updated 11/3 David Tennant is doing a voiceover for the Scottish SPCA Click on the embeded video at this link to hear him. Updated 11/3 David Tennant is narrating another documentary. It is called Diet or My Husband Dies and will be broadcast on Monday 15th March on BBC1 at 10.35pm (11.05pm in Northern Ireland and at 11.15pm in Wales). See here for more details. Updated 9/3 Click here to download a MP3 of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men starring David Tennant. Updated 7/3 Today is the premier broadcast of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men starring David Tennant at 3pm on Radio 4. Updated 7/3 Following the earlier posts here about David Tennant narrating Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, click here to listen to the audio of the first of the three episodes of the series. Updated 5/3 Click here to listen to the most important part of the David Tennant / Eddie Izzard / Sport Relief documentary.

Updated 5/3 Unexpectedly David Tennant was heard narrating the documentary Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man tonight at 10.35pm on BBC3. See here for details about when this episode will be repeated and the second episode will be shown. Updated 4/3 David Tennant will be narrating a TV programme about Cerebra on Saturday 13th March at 11.30am on BBC2. See here for more details. Updated 4/3 The David Tennant narrated Doctor Who audio CD Dead Air is released today. See here for more details and how to purchase it. Updated 4/3 Next week's Radio Times lists Of Mice And Men as their programme of the week. See here for more information and here for a section on Of Mice And Men. Updated 3/3 Click here to download the MP3 of all of Murder in Samarkand and here for more information about the radio play. Updated 2/3 February 2010 The Independent has a review of Murder in Samarkand.

Updated 21/2 Following the broadcast this afternoon of Murder in Samarkand on Radio 4, Craig Murray writes about his reaction, has the link to the play on iPlayer and a quip about David Tennant. Updated 20/2 Craig Murray on Murder in Samarkand which is being broadcast today at 2.30pm. Updated 20/2 Click here to see photos of David Tennant recording Of Mice And Men which will air on 7th March at 3pm on BBC Radio 4. Updated 19/2 Craig Murray has added a transcript of the David Hare interview from Front Row to his website (plus he links to the recording by DavidTennantOnTwitter.com!) Updated 16/2 Both an interview with David Hare and a trailer for Murder In Samarkand have been added to the Radio page of this website. Updated 15/2 Craig Murray talks about David Tennant playing him in the radio play Murder In Samarkand on Saturday in a Daily Mail article here . Updated 14/2 Click here to listen to David Tennant's intro for the Elaine Paige radio show which was broadcast this afternoon.

Updated 7/2 Click here to hear David Tennant's voice-over from the latest Wii advert. Updated 7/2 The BBC have issued a press release about the David Hare radio play Murder In Samarkand which David Tennant stars in on Saturday 20th February. Click here to read the press release and some photos of David Tennant with David Hare. Updated 5/2 David Tennant is voicing a NewsRound Special about staying safe on the Internet. It is called Caught in the Web and will be shown at 4.55pm on BBC1 on Tuesday 9th February and at 6.30pm on the CBBC Channel on the same day. It will then be repeated on the CBBC Channel at 5pm on Saturday 13th February, plus a longer version will also be shown at 11am on BBC2 on Thursday 11th February 2010. Click here to hear an audio clip of David Tennant from the show and here for the full BBC press release. Updated 4/2 The Guardian has a positive review of David Tennant and Catherine Tate's stint of The Jonathan Ross Radio Show last Saturday on Radio Two online here .

More info about this can be found on David_Tennant on Twitter @Blogspot.com Updated 4/2 BBC America have a short article about David Tennant in the Murder in Samarkand radio play online here . It also includes a Craig Murray video to give a taster. Updated 4/2 Today The Guardian have an article about the David Hare play Murder in Samarkand which David Tennant recorded last week. It airs on Radio 4 on Saturday 20th February. Updated 1/2 January 2010 The Daily Mail mentions David Tennant and Catherine Tate hosting The Jonathan Ross show on Radio 2 yesterday in this article and say that Jonathan tweeted afterwards "Big thanks to David and Catherine for stepping in." (There is a slight error in the article as we knew on Thursday David would be hosting the show.) Updated 31/1 All the David Tennant and Catherine Tate sections of their hosting of the Jonathan Ross Show on Radio Two today have been added to the Radio page of DavidTennantOnTwitter.com . Updated 30/1 David Tennant and Catherine Tate record the Jonathan Ross Radio 2 Show today (it will be broadcast tomorrow). See here for more info.

Updated 29/1 According to a tweet by William Bowerman of the band La Roux, it appears that David Tennant and Catherine Tate will be hosting the Jonathan Ross Show on Radio 2 again this Saturday (30th). Updated 28/1 A new Doctor Who audiobook (which is read by David Tennant) will be released on 4th March 2010. The story is called Dead Air and is written by James Goss. Click here to pre-order it from Play.com for �6.99. Updated 27/1 Craig Murray posted on his Blog yesterday that they completed recording the Radio 4 David Hare play and it is called Murder in Samarkand. It will be broadcast on Saturday 20th February at 2.30pm as part of Radio 4's The Saturday Play series. See this link for more info. Updated 25/1 David Tennant's telephone call to the Christian O'Connell Show on Absolute Radio this morning has been added to the Radio page of this website. David speaks about his NTA award, Rex Is Not Your Lawyer and the Radio 4 drama he is recording today.

Updated 21/1 schehera has posted on LiveJournal that David Tennant rang into Absolute Radio this morning to discuss the NTAs last night that that he said he was on his way to do a Radio 4 war on terror drama today. Updated 21/1 A second part of the interview from the Legally Blonde Gala Night was played on the Fearne Cotton Show on Radio One on Thursday 14th. The Radio page of this website has both clips. David talks about Sheridan Smith in the second clip and then they record her reaction to his comments! Updated 15/1 Last night at the Legally Blonde Gala Night, David Tennant was asked about the British paparazzi who photographed him on the set of Rex Is Not Your Lawyer in Los Angeles in December. This clip is David's response which was played on the Steve Wright Show on Radio Two this afternoon. Updated 14/1 A new New Doctor Who audiobook called The Last Voyage (which is read by David Tennant) is released today. Click here for more information. Updated 7/1

Question: Which programme is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 10.45pm and 11.00pm each weekday evening?
Answer: A Book at Bedtime